Research Mission

Criminology + Criminal Justice

Criminal Justice faculty examine the nature and causes of crime and the systems and practices of criminal justice. The program is known for path-breaking work in relation to race, gender, and the psychological dimensions of criminal behavior.

We address fundamental issues of crime and justice from diverse disciplinary perspectives, using an array of quantitative and qualitative methods in accordance with the highest standards of major research universities.

Our work spans the subfields of criminology and criminal justice, expanding each of them in vital new ways. Faculty and graduate students publish their work in leading disciplinary and interdisciplinary journals and with the foremost university and commercial presses, obtaining research support from major public and private agencies and foundations.

One thing that really stood out to me when considering this program was the interdisciplinary approach that is encouraged from our department regarding graduate studies. By drawing connections between criminology and the minor of your choosing, you are able to explore new and exciting ways of researching criminal justice while avoiding an insular viewpoint of the field. This is still my favorite attribute of the program to this day.

Our research is relevant

Our research examines everything from the fundamental nature of crime to patterns of criminal sentencing. We look at relationships between crime and race, ethnicity, and gender, and consider topics of social, economic, and environmental justice.

Faculty and graduate student research has been supported by funds from a number of major agencies and foundations. These include: